“Roger that.” The radio went dead.
Joshua glanced at Mary. With her eyes downcast and her hands clasped, she was a lovely sight. Even with the smudges of dirt on her face. Was there anyone special in her life?
He caught sight of Nick watching him in the mirror and looked away, but like a magnetic needle that was always drawn to the north, Joshua’s gaze moved back to Mary’s face.
He might be attracted to her, but he only had one option where the sheriff’s daughter was concerned: go home and forget all about her.
Chapter Five
“Do I have dirt on my face?” Mary didn’t look up. She could feel Joshua’s gaze on her and wondered what he was thinking. Since entering the car he had been so serious, so worried.
“You do, but I was staring at the destruction out there.” He gestured toward the view beyond with his chin.
She looked out the window beside her and gasped. They were driving parallel to the tornado’s track. The land bore an enormous scar of destruction. Everywhere the twister had encountered trees, only denuded trunks with stripped and snapped limbs remained. Where the trees had been toppled whole, huge mats of roots stuck in the air. As the storm had passed through wheat fields, it was if an insane harvester had mowed down random sections. Even the grass had been torn out of the pastures, leaving a path of churned dirt in the funnel’s wake.
“That’s the Keim farm,” she said as they rolled past the once neatly tended Amish home. The entire front of the building and the roof was missing. It resembled a dollhouse more than a home. She could see into the rooms of the upper stories, where beds sat covered in bright quilts and clothes still hung on pegs. Below, the stove was all that was left in the remains of the kitchen. Some two dozen Amish men and women were working to clear the rubble. It was one advantage of large Amish families—when someone was in need, there were lots of aunts, uncles and cousins to come help.
Mary pressed her hand to her mouth. “This is so terrible.”
Nick said, “It’s pretty much the same all the way into Hope Springs. The tornado stayed on the ground for five miles. At times, it was half a mile wide. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He slowed the SUV and turned in to Ada’s lane. The tornado had missed the house by a quarter of a mile. Most of the wind damage was confined to the fields and the crops that had been planted by the young farmer who rented Ada’s land. There were shingles missing from the roof of the house and many of Ada’s flowers had been blown down.
Nick stopped the vehicle by the front porch, where Ada stood waiting for them. The worry on her face transformed into a bright smile when Mary opened the door and let Hannah out. The child raced up the steps straight into Ada’s embrace. Mary followed her.
“I thank Gott you are both safe,” Ada said as she hugged Mary. “You hadn’t been gone more than twenty minutes when the storm hit. When I came outside and saw the twister had gone the same direction you were heading, I dropped to my knees and prayed for you.”
“God heard you. He sent Joshua Bowman to help us. You must thank him, as well,” Mary replied, turning to introduce her grandmother to him as he got out of her father’s vehicle.
Miriam said, “Joshua’s buggy was destroyed and his horse was injured. He’s a long way from home. I’m hoping you can look after him until he has a chance to sort out what to do next.”
Ada raised a hand and beckoned. “Of course. Everyone, please come inside. I’ve been keeping supper warm in the oven. I must hear what happened to you.”
“I can’t stay,” Nick said. “I have to get back to the command post we have set up in Hope Springs.”
“I can’t stay, either,” Miriam added. “The Red Cross needs volunteers. As a nurse, I know they’ll have use for me. I don’t know when I’ll be back, Mamm.”
Ada nodded. “I understand.”
After another round of hugs from Nick and Miriam, Mary waved goodbye from the porch steps and then led the way into the house. The kitchen smelled of fried chicken and fresh bread. Hannah proceeded to tell her great-grandmother all about their adventure. Ada was shocked and amazed at their narrow escape. Finally, Hannah said, “And then Bella found us. I’m really hungry. Can we eat now?”
Mary laid a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “We should get cleaned up before we sit at the table. Come on. Let’s find some decor-free clothes for you.” She glanced at Joshua and saw him smile. Pleased by it, she led Hannah away to clean up and change.
When she returned, Joshua was coming in through the front door. He had washed up and changed, as well. His face was clean shaven and his hair was still damp. The house had only one bathroom, so she knew he must have washed at the pump outside. He had a blue plastic basin in one hand.
Joshua offered the basin to Ada. “Thanks for the hot water. It made shaving a whole lot easier.”
“Goot. You are welcome to stay with us for as long as you like. I have a spare bed and you won’t be any trouble. Now, sit and let me get some food on the table. Mary, slice some bread and fetch a jar of pears from the pantry.”
“No pears,” Mary and Joshua said together. They shared an embarrassed glance.
Looking confused, Ada said, “I have some peaches if you would rather.”
Mary tried not to laugh. “Don’t we have some plums?”
“Ja, we do.”
Mary kissed her grandmother’s wrinkled cheek. “Plums will be fine. It’s so good to be home.”
While Mary and Hannah were busy getting the table set, Ada began pulling pans from the oven. “Joshua, where is your family from?”
“A place called Bowmans Crossing. It’s north and west of Berlin. About a day’s buggy ride from here.”
“I don’t know it, but then I’ve only been in Hope Springs a few years. I moved here from Millersburg. Do you have someone special waiting back home?”
“Not yet.”
“So you haven’t met the right girl, is that it?”
Mary sent her grandmother a sour glance, but Ada ignored her. Joshua grinned at Hannah. “I’ve met her, but she’s not quite old enough to marry. I’m going to have to wait a few years.”
“He means me, Mammi.” Hannah put the last plate on the table. “I’m not going to be an old maid.”
“At least one of my girls has some sense. What does your family do, Joshua?”
“They farm and run a small business.”
“And how did you end up here?”
“He came to look over some property for his father. I think he has answered enough questions for one day.” Mary took her place at the table.
“I’m just making conversation and trying to put the poor boy at ease.” Ada carried her pan to the table and dished out the creamy potatoes.
When Ada was finished, she took her place at the table and everyone bowed their heads in silent prayer. Because Joshua was the only man at the table, the women waited until he signaled the prayer was finished. Mary hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she dug into her grandmother’s mouthwatering, crispy fried chicken. It was one of the best meals Mary had ever eaten.
When Joshua was finished, he leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. “That was mighty goot, danki.”
Ada smiled at him. “It does my heart good to see a man enjoy my cooking. Mary is a fine cook, too.”
“I can help clean up,” he offered.
Mary and Ada exchanged amused glances. Very few men offered to help with kitchen chores. “I can manage,” Ada said. “It would please me if you would read from the Good Book for us when I’m done here.”
“It would be my pleasure. Hannah, do you have a Bible story that you like?”
“Noah. I like the story about Noah and all the animals.”
Ada smiled. “Very appropriate. As Noah and his family were delivered fro
m a great storm, so were you and your mother. Gott is merciful.”
Their evenings were often spent with Mary reading passages while Ada caught up with her needlework. It was a pleasant change to have someone else reading to her. Mary listened to the sound of Joshua’s voice and realized once again how soothing it was. He had a strong, firm voice. He read with ease and with understanding, pausing occasionally to ask Hannah about something that he had read. She listened intently, seated on the floor in front of him with Bella at her side. He seemed to be a man devoted to his faith, but Mary knew not everyone was what they seemed to be.
When it was time for bed, Ada showed Joshua to the spare room while Mary took Hannah up to her room. She knelt beside Hannah as the child recited her bedtime prayers. Overwhelmed with gratitude for their deliverance, Mary gazed at her child and gave silent thanks. She would never again take moments like this for granted.
Hannah got into bed and pulled the sheet to her chin. “I like this bed much better. It smells wunderbar.”
Mary tucked her in. “I agree.”
“Will Joshua be here in the morning when I wake up?”
“Ja, he will be here.”
“I’m glad. I like him. Don’t you?”
Mary smiled at her daughter and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I like him, too.” Maybe more than she should.
“How old will I have to be before I can marry him?”
Mary bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. “Very old, I’m afraid.”
“As old as you?”
Mary chuckled. “At least as old as me.”
“Okay. Guten nacht, Mamm.”
“Good night and sweet dreams, liebschen.” Mary stepped away. Bella took her usual spot on the blue rag rug beside the bed. Mary patted the dog’s head. “And sweet dreams for you, too, Bella. You are a very goot hund.”
* * *
The following morning, Mary was up bright and early. By the time Ada came out of her room, Mary already had breakfast underway. Although she would have denied it if anyone asked, she wanted to impress Joshua with her cooking skills. Just a little. She pulled a pan of cinnamon rolls from the oven and set it to cool on the counter.
It wasn’t long before he came in. “Something smells delicious. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
“It will. How do you like your eggs?”
“Less than three years old.” He tried to pinch off a piece of cinnamon roll, but she batted his hand away.
“Sit down and behave yourself or all you’ll get is eggshells.”
“Is there coffee?” He glanced hopefully at her.
“In the pot.”
He helped himself to a cup and sat at the table. She could feel him watching her. It should have made her nervous, but it didn’t. Somehow, it felt comfortable having him in the same room. It shouldn’t, but it did, and she wondered why.
What was it about him that made him different from other men? She studied him covertly as she tried to put her finger on it.
His face wasn’t particularly handsome, but he had a strong jaw and a square chin that made him look dependable. She finally decided his eyes were what made him so interesting. They were a soft, expressive brown. They crinkled at the corners when he smiled. She liked that. It proved he smiled often. And he didn’t mind being quiet.
Ada and Hannah came in a few minutes later and Mary regretted the loss of her time alone with Joshua.
Did he feel the same? Or was he anxious to leave and get home? Of course he was. Why would he want to spend more time with her?
Ada poured some coffee and leaned her hip against the counter. “We will take food and supplies into Hope Springs when our chores are done. Our neighbors are in need. Englisch and Amish alike. We must do what we can.”
Mary nodded, ashamed to admit she had forgotten for a little while the tragedy that had struck her community.
They had barely finished breakfast when Bella barked and trotted to the door, wagging her tail. Mary heard the sound of a buggy pulling up outside. Ada rose and went to the window. A bright smile transformed her face as she turned to Mary. “With all that has happened, I clean forgot Delbert Miller was coming by today. I must go out and make him welcome. Mary, you should come, too.” Ada hurried out the front door.
Mary dried her hands slowly on a kitchen towel. “As if I had any choice in the matter.”
* * *
After the women went out the door, Joshua leaned toward Hannah. “Who is Delbert Miller?”
“Mammi says he is the perfect mann for Mamm. He’s going to fix the chicken house roof, but Mamm is afraid he’ll fall through and squish our chickens.”
The perfect man? Joshua rose to his feet and sauntered toward the door to get a look at the paragon.
The buggy in front of the gate was tipped heavily to one side. When the driver got out, Joshua understood the reason. Delbert Miller was a man of considerable size, with a jovial smile and a booming voice to match.
“Good morning, Ada. Good morning, Mary. I see the storm caught you, too.”
“Not as bad as some, I hear. What about your place?” Ada asked.
“Not even a branch knocked down.”
“You were blessed,” Mary said quietly.
“Indeed, I am.” Delbert gave Mary a bright smile. His gaze lingered on her face.
Joshua studied Mary closely, looking for her reaction. To his eyes, she didn’t look happy to see the perfect man, and that pleased him.
A team of horses pulling a wagon came up the lane, driven by two young Amish men. The wagon was loaded with lumber.
“Have you brought help?” Ada asked.
Delbert gestured in their direction. “I met Atlee and Moses Beachy on the road. They were on their way home from the Weavers’ sawmill with lumber for the town. They insisted on following me in case you needed some repairs.”
“That was mighty kind of them, but all I need is a few shingles on the porch roof.”
“We have some with us,” one of the twins said.
Hannah came outside, but the child stood behind her mother, peeking around the edge of her skirt.
The two young brothers, identical twins, got down from the wagon. “Has anyone seen Hannah Banana?” asked the one who had been driving.
“Could be she got blown away in the big wind,” the other one said as they looked around pretending to seek her.
Hannah stepped out from behind Mary. “I almost got blown away. Did you see the tornado? It smashed Joshua’s house, and we got stuck in the old cellar. Mamm and me and Joshua had to stay there all night. It was full of cobwebs and yucky.”
“You don’t say?” Delbert looked to Mary for more of an explanation.
Mary, her cheeks glowing pink, gave an abbreviated account to their visitors and introduced Joshua to the men. She sent Hannah back into the house before the little girl could repeat more of the story.
Ada spoke to the twins. “You can get out on the porch roof from the upstairs window. I’ll show you. Delbert, I have some cinnamon kaffi cake I baked yesterday. Come up to the house when you’re finished and have some.”
“I’d love to, but it will have to wait. There’s a lot of people in need today and the twins and I should get going when we are finished here.”
“I understand. Mary will show you what we need done to the chicken haus.”
Joshua caught Mary’s slight hesitation before she nodded. “Come this way.”
“Why don’t I give you a hand,” Joshua offered. He was rewarded with a grateful look from Mary. It appeared that she didn’t want to be alone with Delbert.
“I don’t reckon I’ll need any help.” Delbert frowned at Joshua.
“Many hands make quick work,” Mary said brightly. She led the way to the henhouse beside the barn.
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The structure had seen better days. There was a hole in the roof where some of the shingles had rotted away. The red paint was faded and peeling from the walls. Joshua suspected a number of boards would need to be replaced. Mary pointed out where the chicken wire around the fenced enclosure was loose and sagging. She opened a gate to the enclosure and stepped back. The black-and-brown hens scurried past her and spread out across the barnyard in search of insects. A large rooster crowed his displeasure, but when all the hens were gone, he followed them and took up a post on the corral fence, where he crowed repeatedly until one of the twins shooed him away.
Delbert turned to Mary. “I’ll need a ladder to get up on the roof. Do you have one I can use?”
She pointed toward the barn. “Of course. It’s right inside the main door.”
Delbert looked disappointed that she didn’t offer to show him in person, but he went to fetch it alone.
“I think Hannah might be right,” Joshua said, trying to hide a smile.
Mary frowned at him. “About what?”
“She said Delbert was the perfect man for you.”
Her eyes narrowed in displeasure. “There’s no such thing as a perfect man. Only God is perfect.”
“True enough, but I think you were right about the rest.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“If he gets up on the roof of that chicken house, he’s going to go right through it.”
A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her pretty mouth. “Why do you think I let all the hens out?”
Delbert returned, carrying the ladder under his arm. He propped it against the building, but before he could climb up, Joshua caught him by the arm. “Why don’t you let me go? You and Mary can hand me the supplies I’ll need once I am up there.”
Delbert looked ready to argue, but thought better of it. “I reckon it would be better for a skinny little fellow like you to test those old boards.”
Joshua slapped him on the back. “Exactly what I was thinking. Would you mind if I borrow some of your tools?”
Once he was on the roof of the henhouse, Joshua pried loose the rotted shingles with Delbert’s hammer. A section of the plywood roof had to be replaced, but the underlying rafters were sound. Mary handed the new shingles to Delbert, who stood on the ladder and handed them over to Joshua. When Joshua came down, Mary excused herself and went up to the house, leaving the two men alone.
Amish Redemption Page 6